Elliott Smith tribute doubles as mental health drive
South Dakota musicians to celebrate iconic artist's legacy while raising awareness, resources for National Alliance on Mental Illness
In March of 1998, a 29-year-old Elliott Smith walked onto the Oscars stage to perform his song “Miss Misery” in front of a national television audience and a theater full of Hollywood celebrities and executives. What transpired during his moving, two-minute performance was a moment so candid it felt deeply personal. Smith managed to turn one of the biggest performances of his career into one of the most intimate experiences. The performance was a testament to his powerful, introspective songwriting skills and hushed vocal stylings that always carried a brutal honesty. To celebrate the lasting impression of his music, several musicians are gearing up to pay homage to one of their favorite singer/songwriters.
Icon Lounge in downtown Sioux Falls will be hosting An Evening of Elliott Smith on Saturday, Jan. 4.
The event, organized by the In-Betweener Art Collective, will feature local musicians Xavier Pastrano and Micah Kittelson, Brookings cellist Jon Bakken, and local jam band Granola all performing iconic songs from Smith’s vast catalogue. Each unique set will feature the artist’s take on the Elliott Smith songs that mean the most to them.
Smith was an American singer/songwriter who gained popularity in the mid to late 1990s for his candid and emotional songwriting. His career gained notable traction when his song “Miss Misery” was used in the 1997 film Good Will Hunting and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song. Additionally, his song “Needle in the Hay” was used in the 2001 Wes Anderson classic The Royal Tenenbaums, expanding his musical reach and further cementing his status as a true artist with words and melodies.
Unfortunately, Smith grappled with alcohol and drug addiction and struggled with ADHD and depression diagnoses. He died tragically in 2003 in Los Angeles at the young age of 34. His career spanned six studio albums (the final released posthumously) and three compilation albums, one of which served as the soundtrack to the 2014 documentary Heaven Adores You, a film that chronicles Smith’s musical career during his time in Portland, New York and Los Angeles.
Because mental health played a significant role in Smith’s life and work, event organizer In-Betweener Art Collective teamed up with the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) South Dakota to support those in need. A NAMI South Dakota information booth and free will donation will be set up at the event in support of the non-profit and its mission providing mental health advocacy, education and resources to South Dakotans in need.
Doors for the event open at 8 p.m. and music starts at 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $20.
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